A FORMER hotel, which entertained many passengers of the Titanic the day before they set sail, is to be trans-formed into luxury flats.

South Western House near Southampton docks, formerly the Imperial Hotel, is a listed building currently on the at-risk register. Property developer Berkeley Homes plans to turn it into an appartments complex to include a health suite and restaurants.

Southampton City Council granted permission for work to be carried out last year, but because of spiralling costs the developers have been forced revise the scheme and put in another application.

The architectural features of the old hotel, built in 1865, will be kept in the flats, including the original ornate stair-cases and lifts.

"We're incorporating all existing features into the scheme, using the old with the new," said John Walton, project architect.

The historic building has already had a mixed history, at one time used by the Royal Navy before being taken over by the BBC.

Planning chief Sue Blatchford welcomed the change of use.

"Its return to residential use mirrors its original history as a hotel," she said.

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